Lubricator



Feb. 14, 195.0

E. MARTIN ETAL 2,497,822

LUBRIcAToR Filed Sept. 5, 1945 JNVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Patented Feb. 14,

LUBRICATOR Eugene Martin, Weslcyville, and Joseph B. Mac- Kenzie, Erie,Pa., assignors to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, acorporation of Delaware Application September 5, 1945, Serial No.614,482

i `7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an automatic lubricator and particularly to a'lubricator for use'in connection with engines, especially adapted todeliver lubricant to the steam cylinder of a reciprocating steam engine.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved lubricator of thetype automatically responsive to pressure di'erentials that is simpleand compact in construction, thatis positive `and eilici'ent inoperation and While capable of use with reciprocating pressure liuidoperated en` gines generally is specially `adapted for use with enginesoperated periodically. An engine typical of this type and' with which myimproved lulorin cator is particularly adapted, is vshown lin UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 1,747,899 issued to Francis Hogg, February10,1930.. y

In engines of the type described, it has been customary to provide alubricator inthe pressure eld line leading to the engine cylinder. Sincein such installations, some oil is dissipated in theV piping and someoilescapes through drain valves customarily used, an excessive amount ofoil is required and frequent relling of the lu-v bricator reservoir isnecessary. 4It is, therefore, another object of theinvention toeliminate these and other deciencies by providing a 'lubricator andengine arrangement wherein the lubricator is in direct communicationwith the engine cyl-` inder and delivers a positive vand predeterminedcharge of oil directlyv to the cylinder oneach stroke of the cylinderpiston.

Additional objects, advantages and` features of' invention reside in thecon-struction, arrangement and combination 'of parts, Vas lwill be'understood from the preferred andpractical embodiment of the inventionhereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,iii-which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view' with partsin section showingan application oi invention Ato an engine of the type described;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the lubricatorshown in Figure 1` inl its normal or closed position; and

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional view through the lubricator inits open or lubricant supplying position.

Referring to Figure 1 of 'the drawings, a `periodically operated engine,designated by the vletter E, comprises a `cylinder I il, a piston I Imounted for reciprocation therein, aported rear Vcylinder head I2 and aported front cylinder head I3. Secured to the piston 'II is 'the pistonrod I4 `which passes through a su-itablestuiing box opening int-o thelubricant reservoir 26.

(not shown) in the front cylinder head -It an`c`l 55Vv 2 transmits thepower developed by the engine E' ior'performing any suitable operation,as for eX- ample operating a locomotive tender coal pusher y such asshown in Hogg Patent 1,747,899, referred to abo-ve. A portion of such acoal pusher is shown at I5.

The piston II is actuated preferably by steam which is admitted to thecylinder It) through ports (not shown) in the cylinder heads I2 and I3from the steam lpipes I6 and I'I. Preferably the piston II is normallyat the rearmost end of the cylinder I0 and operation thereof is governedby a control valve I8. In the normal position of the piston II, thecontrol valve I8 is in its uppermost position, being held there by theaction of spring I9, in which position of the valve IS steam is admittedfrom the main sup-` ply lead 2U to the supply lead I'I, and thencethrough the ported front cylinder head I3 into the cylinder lil. InFigure l the valve I-has been depressed against the action of the springI9, thereby admitting steam from the main .supply lead 2il to the supplylead I6, through the ported rear cylinder head I2 into the cylinder Iii,inA

consequence oi which the piston I I is moved from the rear to the frontof the cylinder Ill. A Valve 23, in the main supply lead 2li, isprovided for interrupting the flow vof steam to the contr-ol valve I8.

Intermediate its ends, the cylinder I0 is pro-` vided with a threadedopening 2i arranged to receive a lubricator, generally indicated at L,for

lubricating the cylinder walls 0i the engine E.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the lubricator L comprises a lubricatorbody 25 enclosing a mai-n lubricant containing reservoir 26. The lowerend of the body 25 is provided with a threaded boss 2'I having a centralpassageway 28 there through The lower or outer end of the passageway 28is enlarged to form a valve cage 29, which containsa ball check valve30, the function and oper-ation thereof being hereinafter described.

A cylinder 31 is `threaded on the boss 2'! and' is provided in itsvbottom wall 32 with an opening 33 which provides communication with theproviding an auxiliary reservoir "3d, as shown 1in Figure 2. The sleeve34 is provided in itsV inner or upper end vwith an opening 3Sregistering with the enlargement or `valve cage 29 of the passage" way28, permitting lubricant to pass from the main reservoir 26 to theauxiliary reservoir 35 when the ball valve 3D is in the position shownin Figure 2. A pin 3l' extending through the upper end of the sleeve 34and its opening 36 retains the ball valve 30 in the valve cage 29.

A piston 38. provided at one end with a large head 39 adapted toreciprocate in the cylinder 3l, and at the other end with a small head40 adapted to reciprocate in the cylindrical sleeve 34, is normallyretained in the position shown in Figure 2 by action of the spring 4I. Abore 42 extends through the piston 38, and is restricted at the inner orsmall end 40 of the piston 38 providing a seat 43 arranged to receivethe ball check valve 44. At the outer or large end 39 of the piston 38,the bore 42 is threaded to receive a plug 45. The outer end of the plug45 is provided with a nozzle 46 having a plurality of diverging orifices4l communicating at their inner ends with a circumferential groove 48,which in turn communicates with the interior of the bore 42 through apassage 49 in the plug 45. The ball valve 44 is normally held againstthe seat 43 by action of a spring 50 disposed in the bore 42 between theplug 45 and the ball valve 44.

In operation, assuming the piston lI to be in its normal position at therear of the cylinder I with the valve 23 in the main steam supply lead20 closed, then the control valve I8 will be in its uppermost position,as opposed to the position shown in Figure 1, and the lubricator pistonand valves will be in the position shown in Figure 2. rlhe operatorfirst opens the main steam valve 23, causing steam to pass through thecontrol valve I8 into the steam pipe I1 and thence through ported frontcylinder head I3 into the cylinder I0. When a predetermined pressure hasbeen built up in the cylinder I0, the lubricator piston 38 will movefrom the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3,it being understood that a spring 4I of such strength is selected as toresist movement of the piston 38 until the desired predeterminedpressure is reached. Upon such movement of the piston 33, the pressureexerted on the lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir 35 first forces theball check valve 30 against the seat 5I closing the passageway 28, andthen forces the ball check valve 44 away from its seat 43 against theaction of spring 5D, whereupon the lubricant in the auxiliary reservoirpasses into the bore 42, then through passageway 49 into thecircumferential groove 48, from which it is discharged through theoriiices 41 of the nozzle 46 against the interior wall of the cylinderI0. From the operation thus far described, it is evident that a chargeof lubricant is delivered to the walls of the cylinder I0 in advance ofthe movement of the piston II in the engine cylinder, thereby insuring alprotective lm of oil for the cylinder prior to operation of the engine.

The operator having opened the main steam valve 23 permitting a chargeof lubricant to be delivered to the cylinder I0 by lubricator L asdescribed, he then depresses the control valve I8 against the action ofspring I9, to the position shown in Figure 1. Steam will then pass fromthe main steam supply lead 28 through the control valve I8 to the steampipe I6, thence through the ported rear cylinder head I2 into thecylinder l0 at the rear of the piston l I. In the depressed position ofthe control valve i8, steam in the cylinder l0 forward of the piston IIexhausts through pipe ILthrough the control valve I8 and thence toexhaust pipe 52. Upon reduction of the pressure in the cylinder I0 atthe forward side of piston Il, action of the spring 4I causes the piston38 to resume the position shown in Figure 2, whereupon ball check valve44 will be seated by action of spring 50 and ball check valve 30 will beunseated by gravity, permitting a charge of lubricant to enter theauxiliary reservoir 35 through passageway 28 from the main lubricantreservoir 26.

Now, when the piston I I has moved toward the forward end of thecylinder a distance sufcient to clear the opening 24, the pressure ofthe steam rearward of the piston II will again raise the lubricatorpiston 38 and as described above a charge of oil will be discharged fromthe auxiliary reservoir 35 through the nozzle 46 to the walls of thecylinder I0. When the piston I I has reached the forward end of thecylinder IU, the operator may reverse the direction of the piston I I byreleasing the control valve I8, the action of spring I9 against a handle(not shown) raising the control valve to its upper position. The pipeI'I then becomes the live steam pipe and pipe I6 becomes the exhaustpipe. Live steam entering the cylinder I0 at the rear of the piston I Imoves the piston toward the front of the cylinder, and as before acharge of lubricant will be admitted to the cylinder when the piston I Iclears the opening 24.

From the above description it will be evident that a predeterminedcharge of lubricant is automatically and directly delivered to the motorcylinder on each stroke of the piston and also prior to initial movementof the piston, thereby insuring a protective iilm of oil for the enginecylinder walls at all times. The supply of lubricant may be replenishedby removing a screw plug 53 in the top of the lubricator body 25.

We claim:

1. A lubricator comprising a main lubricant reservoir and an auxiliaryreservoir with a communicating passageway therebetween, a check valve insaid passageway, a lubricant discharge passageway leading from saidauxiliary reservoir, a check valve in said discharge passageway, saidcheck valves adapted for normally opening said communicating passagewayand closing said discharge passageway, and a reciprocable mem-vmunicating passageway therebetween, a checl:

valve in said passageway, a lubricant discharge passageway leading fromsaid auxiliary reservoir,I

a check valve in said discharge passageway, said check valves arrangedfor normally admitting lubricant from said main reservoir to saidauxiliary reservoir and restraining discharge of lubricant from saidauxiliary reservoir, a spring loaded piston movable from its normalposition by application of a predetermined external pressure appliedthereon at the discharge end of said lubricator for transmittingpressure on the lubricant in said auxiliary reservoir, said check valvesbeing responsive to such movement of said piston for restraining flow oflubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir andeffecting a discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir.

3. A lubricator comprising a main lubricant reservoir, an auxiliaryreservoir and a cylinder housing a reciprocable piston, a communicatingpassageway between said main reservoir and said auxiliary reservoir, acheck valve in said passageway, a lubricant discharge passagewayextending through said piston communicating with said auxiliaryreservoir and a check valve in said discharge passageway, said checkvalves arranged for normally admitting lubricant from said mainreservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and restraining discharge oflubricant from said auxiliary reservoir, said piston being'movable fromits normal position by application of external pressure applied at thedischarge end of said lubricator, said check valves being responsive tosuch movement of said piston for restraining iiow of lubricant from saidmain reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and eiecting a discharge oflubricant from said auxiliary reservoir.

4. A lubricator comprising a main lubricant reservoir, an auxiliaryreservoir and a cylinder housing a reciprocable piston, a communicatingpassageway between said main reservoir and said auxiliary reservoir, acheck valve in said passageway, a lubricant discharge passagewayextending through said piston communicating with said auxiliaryreservoir and a check valve in said discharge passageway, said checkvalves arranged for normally admitting lubricant from said mainreservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and restraining discharge oflubricant from said auxiliary reservoir, said piston being movable fromits normal position by application of a predetermined external pressureapplied at the discharge end of said lubricator, said check valves beingresponsive to such movement of said piston for restraining flow oflubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir andeffecting a discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir, andresilient means retaining said piston in its normal position below saidpredetermined pressure.

`.`"A lubricator comprising a main lubricant reservoir and an auxiliaryreservoir with a communicating passageway therebetween, a check valvecontrolling said passageway, a hollow reciprocable piston having arestricted opening at its inner end in communication with said auxiliaryreservoir and a threaded opening at its outer end, a check valve at theinner end of said piston controlling said restricted opening and anozzle threaded in said threaded opening at the outer end of saidpiston, said check valves arranged for normally admitting lubricant fromsaid main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and restrainingdischarge of lubricant from said auxiliary through said nozzle, saidpiston being movable from its normal position by application of externalpressure against its outer end, and said check valves being responsiveto such movement of said piston for restraining ow of lubricant fromsaid main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and effecting adischarge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir through saidnozzle.

6. A lubricator comprising a main body member having a main lubricantreservoir and an auxiliary reservoir with a communicating passagewaytherebetween, a cylinder secured to said main body member embracing saidauxiliary reservoir, connected differential pistons having a large headoperating in said cylinder and a small head operating in said auxiliaryreservoir, a lubricant discharge passageway extending through saidconnected pistons communicating with said auxiliary reservoir, a checkvalve in each of said passageways adapted for normally opening saidcommunicating passageway and closinU said discharge passageway, theouter side of said large piston head being responsive to an externalpressure for transmitting pressure on the lubricant in said auxiliaryreservoir, said check valves being responsive to the pressure on thelubricant in said auxiliary reservoir for closing said communieatingpassageway and opening said discharge passageway to effect discharge oflubricant from said auxiliary reservoir through said dischargepassageway.

7. In combination, an engine comprising a cylinder and a pistonreciprocable therein, valve controlled means for alternately admittingpressure fluid to and exhausting pressure fluid from each side of saidpiston, and a lubricator in direct communication with said cylinderbetween the opposite ends thereof, said lubricator comprising a mainlubricant reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir with a communicatingpassageway therebetween, a check valve in said passageway, a lubricantdischarge passageway providing communication between said auxiliaryreservoir and said cylinder, a check valve in said discharge passageway,said check valves adapted for normally opening said communicatingpassageway and closing said discharge passageway, and a pressure iluidactuated piston movable from its normal position when in communicationwith the pressure side of said engine piston, said check valves beingresponsive to such movement of said lubricator piston for closing saidcommunicating passageway and opening said discharge passageway.

EUGENE MARTIN.

JOSEPH B. MACKENZIE.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 113,200 Nottingham Mar. 28, 1811305,678 Dees Sept. 23, 1884 491,224 Poore Feb. 7, 1893 504,178 SnyderAug. 29, 1893 657,643 Burwell Sept. 11, 1900 958,260 Leyner May 17, 19101,186,487 McClelland June 6, 1916 1,540,943 Lester June 9, 19251,837,811 Farmer Dec. 22, 1931 1,897,609 Cowles Feb. 14, 1933

